State Cong mulls rejig

Ranchi, July 1: The state Congress is all set to effect major changes in the organisation to rejuvenate the party’s support base ahead of the coming Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

State Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat today went to Delhi with a list of proposed changes in the state and district-level committees. Former state unit president and Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, CLP leader Rajendra Prasad Singh, among others, also rushed to the national capital to apparently to secure places for their loyalists in the new committees.

When contacted, Bhagat said the changes would be announced following discussion on the proposed reshuffle with the central leadership. “I think, the reshuffle will be announced by the next week,” Bhagat told The Telegraph over telephone from Delhi.

According to sources, the state Congress leaders are expected to meet senior party leaders, like chairman of the Congress’s committee on prospective alliance A.K. Antony, tomorrow to discuss new names to be included into the organisation.

Party insiders confided that the Congress leadership had come to the conclusion that revival of the party base was not possible in the existing organisational set-up. They added the heads of at least nine district units were likely to face the axe, including Koderma, Chaibasa, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jamshedpur and Ramgarh.

“The pathetic show in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls has nothing to do with the proposed reshuffle. The changes have been suggested on the basis of activities organised by different districts units to connect with the masses,” said a senior party leader.

Changes are expected at the state-level committee too. State working committee member Radha Krishna Kishore may be dropped considering his growing bonhomie with the BJP. This apart, the post of a vice president, which fell vacant after departure of Stephen Marandi from the party, will be filled up.

“New faces will be picked. A couple of leaders working in the state committee will be dropped following their unsatisfactory performances, while a few others will be promoted. I think at the secretary level changes will be made,” the leader added.